The ProLiant ML series servers are provided with HP iLO Management Engine. HP iLO Management Engine is a complete set of management tools and is set default in Gen8 servers. It includes Intelligent Provisioning, HP Active Health, Agentless Management and Embedded Remote Support. iLO is the HP proprietary embedded management tool.

Let’s have an overview of HP iLO Management Engine’s tools.

Intelligent Provisioning

Every business needs management tools that accelerate server deployment quick and inexpensively. HP has provided a server management tool that has Intelligent Provisioning feature. It eliminates media and time-consuming efforts. When using this tool all drivers and software are pre-loaded onto the server. Intelligent Provisioning tool is embedded in the server so you do not need software CDs any more. During server boot-up process press F10 key to get started. If the system software is out-of-date it will automatically upgrade it by connecting to the internet directly. It deploys server in 45% less steps so you can make your server 3 times faster. It makes server deployment easy and simple as there is no more need of SmartStart CDs. It includes all required drivers, firmware and tools on the system board. Two SD cards are used for storage as an alternative to Array Controller.

HP Active Health

Active Health System is the key component of the HP Server Management Engine. It is the first tool in the industry that provides proactive and continuous monitoring of over 1600 system parameters.

Active Health System is able to provide:

Health and service alerts

Rich configuration history

Diagnostic tool

Easy export and upload to Service and Support

Agentless Management

Agentless Management is one of the features of the iLO management engine. It collects the OS based information and sends it to the iLO. It collects inventory information about the installed applications and processes running, IP address, system name, NIC information and some OS installed information that the iLO has no access to. On installation it continuously runs in the background.

Embedded Remote Support

Embedded Remote Support is an essential component of the iLO Management Engine. It includes an HP Insight Online feature that is available in Support Centre can display remote offices by HP Insight Remote Support. Customers can enjoy 24×7 monitoring of remote offices by HP Insight Remote Support. It allows you and HP and your HP Authorized Channel Partner to track service events and related support cases.

Shoaib Iqbal is an Electrical Engineer and Cisco Certified. He has over 1 year experience as Technical Writer. His writing work includes installation manuals and configuration guides of networking products and overviews of backup tapes.